Combination washer-drier



Jan. 19, 1960 T. R. sMlTH 2,921,384

COMBINATION WASHER-DRIER Filed April 8. 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 oooooo oooooooo oooooooo l oooooooo OOOOOOO Jan. 19, 1960 T. R. SMITH COMBINATION WASHER-DRIER 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 .Filed April 8. 1957 www MIDI..

Jan. 19, 1960 T. R. SMITH COMBINATION WASHER-UNER Filed April 8. 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet `3 f' p 2,921,384 Patented Jan. 19, 1960 COMBINATION WASHER-Damn Thomas R. Smith, Newton, Iowa, assignor to The Maytag Company, Newton, Iowa, a corporation of Delaware Application April 8, 1957, Serial No. '651,367

Claims. (Cl. 34-75) This invention relates to a combination washer-drier in which clothes may be washed and completely dried within a single container without relying upon any external ductwork for the discharge of hot humid vapors from the combination unit into some remote atmosphere or into the ambient atmosphere surrounding the unit itself.

In the embodiment of the washer-drier disclosed hereinafter the washing operation is produced by tumbling fabrics in a pool of washing uid retained within a stationary imperforate casing enclosing a perforate clothes receiving drum which contains these fabrics and which is capable of being rotated at either of two speeds for washing and fluid extraction purposes. The drying operation of this combination unit is produced by evaporating moisture from the fabrics tumbled within this clothes drum and then condensing the resulting moisture vapors in a vapor condensing unit which communicates with the interior of the drum and which is located in the housing forming the sole support for that drum.

The washer-drier construction forming the subject matter of this invention includes a perforate drum aiixed to a drive shaft which is revolubly mounted in a bearing supported in the center of a housing fastened to the rear wall of an imperforate casing encompassing that drum. This housing, which forms the sole support for the drum drive shaft and the drum fastened to that shaft, is provided with a tubular member positioned intermediate the drive shaft bearing and the peripheral wall of the housing by means of two sets of radially convergent webs so as to define two concentric passageways which communiate 'with different portions of the drum.

The outer passageway formed between housing periphery and the tubular member interconnects the outlet of a vapor condensing unit and the perforate drum periphery by way of a heating unit whereas the inner passageway formed between the drive shaft bearing and the tubular member within the housing interconnects the interior of the drum through a centrally located opening in the rear drum wall with the intake of the vapor condensing unit positioned at the rear of the housing. Through the use of these two passageways a closed air path is provided through the clothes drum, the vapor condensing unit and the heating unit which in turn communicates With the clothes drum so that a complete drying operation may be performed within the casing which encompasses the drum and serves as a container for the iluid used during the Washing operation.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a sectional view in elevation showing a combination washer-drier embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a rear elevation of the combination washerdrier shown on Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view taken on 3--3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 1; and,

Figure 5 is a View taken on line 5 5 of Figure 1 showing the impeller and condenser housing structure for moving air through and water from the vapor condensing unit of my illustrative washer-drier.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings it will be seen that base frame 10 carried on legs 11 forms a support for the two upstanding web members 13 which have their upper ends fastened to the substantially 1mperforate casing 14.

Base frame 10 also serves as a support for the cabinet 16 enclosing casing 14, the motor 17 powering this illustrative combination unit and the two-speed transmission 18 driven by motor 17.

The casing 14 is joined to the supporting webs 13 at the connection provided between the latter members and the substantially imperforate cylindrical sidewall 21 of casing 14. The cylindrical sidewall 21 is joined at its front edge to the front wall 22 and at its rear edge to the rear wall 23 to form a fluid tight casing for washing 0perations and an enclosed casing for drying purposes.

The rather heavy rear wall 23 has its central portion blanked out to receive a large casting or housing 25 which is bolted to rear wall 23 around the periphery of that centrally blanked out portion. Housing 25 is provided with a plurality -of longitudinal radial webs 26 which are connected between the peripheral Wall of that casting and a tubular member 27 also formed as part of casting 25.

Member 27 which is tapered somewhat from a cylindrical form also serves as an anchoring means for a second set of radially convergent webs 29 'which support the bearing retainer member 31 provided withneedle bearings 32 for receiving the drum shaft 33.

This forms a first segmented outer passageway located between theA outer wall of casting 25 and the tubular member 27 and positioned in a concentric relationship with drum shaft 33. This construction also forms a second inner segmented passageway between the tubular portion 27 and bearing retainer member 31. This second passageway is concentric to both shaft 33 and to the outer passageway.

The forward end of drum shaft 33 is rigidly connected to a perforate dome or drum spider member 35 by means of a .cross pin 36 which pierces members 33 and 35. This drum spider Imember 35 is perforate to allow air flow therethrough and is connected to the revoluble drum 38 adjacent the periphery of an opening 39 Vformed in the rear wall 41 of that drum 38. A vapor seal 42 encompassing the forward end of the tubular portion 27 of casting 25 engages rear wall 41 in a sliding contact adjacent the periphery of opening 39 to provide an air seal between casting 25 and the revoluble drum 38 while permitting communication between the Vinner concentric passageway and the interior of drum 38. The periphery of the drum spider member 35 is rigidly connected and sealed to the rear wall 41 to form the sole support for the revoluble drum38 on shaft 33.

The periphery of rear wall 41 is connected in a ilanged connection to the perforate cylindrical sidewall '44 which carries a plurality of clothes tumbling vanes 45 to tumble the clothes within drum 38 during the washing and drying operations. Clothes drum 38 is also provided With a front wall 46 which is imperforate except for a centrally located access opening 47. This access opening 47 is aligned with the access opening 48 in the stationary casing `14 and the access opening 49 in cabinet 16.

Access openings 4S and 49 receive the door gasket 51 which extends into drum 38. Gasket v51 is wedged between cabinet 14 and the front wall 22 and is engaged by the cabinet door 53 hinged on cabinet 16.

Rotation of drum 38 is achieved by rotation of the large Vpulley 55 which is rigidly attached to the rear stepped-down portion of drive shaft 33. Rotation of pulley S5 is in turn produced by belt 56 which interconnects pulley 55 with theoutput pulley 57 of the twospeed transmission generally indicated by the arrow 18. Transmission 18 is supplied with an input pulley member 3 59 which is rotated through of the double motor pulley 62 driven by motor 17. With this driving construction drum 38 may be rotated at a tumbling speed of Vapproximately 50 revolutions per minuate or at a spin speed of approximately 200 revolutions -per minute depending upon the positioning of the conltrols (not shown) for the transmission 18 which, aside 'from its diagrammatic use in this specification, forms no part of this invention.

A circulation of air through clothes drum 38 during 'the rotation of drum 38 is achieved by the use of the impeller member 65 which is journalled on the rear stepped-down portion of drum drive shaft 33 and which forms part of a vapor condensing unit cooperating with casting 25 and generally indicated by the reference nu- `meralv66. AThe bladed impeller member 65 is positioned between the large pulley 55 and the shouldered portion of drum drive shaft 33 to prevent its axial movement on the latter shaft. Impeller 65 is cast integrally with its small driving pulley 68 which is directly driven through belt 69 by the other groove of the double motor pulley 62. This driving connection for impeller member 65 allows the latter member to be driven at a speed approximately 1700 revolutions per minute regardless of the speed selected for drum 38.

- It will be noted that only the front portion of im- .peller member 65 carries any blades and that these blades `71 are of greater depth from the periphery of impeller I65 to tubular member 27 than from shaft 33 to member 27. This reduction in depth of these blades reduces the tendency of splash back within tubular member 27 during the drying operation.

It will be noted in Figure l that the imperforate irn- 'peller member 65 is covered by the impeller cover member 73 which is substantially of the same contour as the back wall of impeller 65 and which cooperates with the casting 25 to provide an annular groove or lrecess 75 having a V-shaped cross section to accommodate a mating uninterrupted iin 76 forming a pumping element or uid impeller on the periphery of the impeller member 65. While rim 76 may be slotted, serrated or interrupted in other ways to prevent lint or sediment accumulations within unit 66, actual operations have shown 'this construction to be satisfactory and quiet in operation.

Water for the washing operation for the machine shown in the accompanying `figures is supplied by the conduit 81 which is supported on the rear wall 23 and which discharges across an air gap into the funnel-shaped member 82 which empties into the inner concentric passageway to allow the washing uid to enter casing 14 by way `of either the perforate drum spider member 35 or through the vapor condensing unit 66 and the outer concentric passageway.

Water retained within casing 14 is removed from that casing following the washing operation through the drain port 84 formed in the sump housing 85 which is bolted to and forms part of casing 14. The drain port 84 is connected in turn to the lower drain hose 86 which communicates with a drain valve and pump unit (not shown) controlling uid ow from casing 14.

Water necessary to condense the moisture vapors in the vapor condensing unit 66 during the drying operation is supplied by the conduit 91 which discharges into the funnel member 92 which in turn discharges a stream or spray into the condenser unit 66 against the blades 71 of the impeller member 65. Fluid in this condenser unit s discharged through the condenser unitdrain hose 93 to an external drain by the pump formed by the cooperation of the annular rim` 76 and recess 75.

The heat to evaporate moisture from fabrics contained within drum 38 is supplied by the inverted U- shaped heating element 95 which is carried on insulated pedestal members attached to the rear wall 23. This heating element 95 partially encompasses the casting belt 61 by one of the grooves( member 25 and is located between the rear wall 23 of casing 14 and the rear wall 41 of drum 38 to heat and reduce the relative humidity of the air discharged from the vapor condenser unit Y66 prior to the reentry of that air into drum 38 through the perforate cylindrical side wall 44. Depending upon the type and wattage rating of the heating unit used, it may be desirable to move the heating unit closer to or away from tubular member 27.

In operation, the combination washer-drier illustrated in the kaccompanying drawings functions as follows: Clothes placed in drum 38 through the access openings 47, 48 and 49 are tumbled at approximately 50 revolutions per minute by the clothes lifting vanes 45 as drum 38 is rotated through the transmission 18 and the described belt and pulley drive system connected to motor 17. Wash water fed into casing 14 through conduit 81 rises within that casing to a selected level below gasket 51 as predetermined by controls which are not shown and which `form no part of this invention.

After a suitable agitation period, the washing fluid is then drained from casing14 by way of the drain hose 86. Casing 14 is then supplied again with water from conduit 81 for one or more rinse periods after which this rinsing uid is again drained from casing 14 through hose 86 and transmission 18 is shifted into its high speed position for centrifugally extracting most of the residual fluids retained by the fabrics within drum 38.

In this illustrative embodiment, rotation of impeller member 65, like drum 38, is continuous throughout both the washing and drying operations. This rotation of impeller member 65 causes air to be forced past heating element over a radially divergent path to enter drum 38 through the perforate cylindrical side wall 44 of that drum.

The suction produced within the vapor condenser unit 66 by this rotation of impeller member 65 causes air within drum 38 to pass through the perforate drum spider 35 and enter the inner concentric passageway of housing 25 after passing through the air exhaust opening 39 formed in the central portion of rear drum wall 41.

Duringthe washing operation this circulation of air pastvthe normally deenergized heater 95 has little effect. However, during the drying operation after casing 14 and condensing unit 66 have been purged of washing fluids, theV energization of the heating unit 95 causes the cirjculating air owing over heater 95 and entering the perforate wall 44'to rise in temperature and produce 'an evaporation of moisture retained within the fabrics tumbling within drum 38. The resulting hot humid air entering the inner concentric passageway of casting 25 from the interior of drum 38 then enters the vapor condensing unit 66 into which conduit 91 discharges its condensing uid during this portion of the operational cycle in accordance with the controls which form no part of this invention.

This contact between the hot moist air from the interior of drum 38 and the cool spray produced by the impinging of the cooling fluid against the revolving impeller blades 71 causes the moisture vapors to condense and coalesce with the cooling uid which is broken into a mist and droplet form by the rotating impeller 65. The cooling of the blowercondensing unit 66 itself by the cooling fluids also produces some condensation of the moist air Vpassing through that unit. This condensation removes moisture from the air discharged from the vapor condensing unit 66 into the outer concentric passageway so that recirculation of this air past the heating element 95 reduces its relative humidity and places it in Ya relatively dry condition for absorbing additional moisture from the fabrics within drum 38.

As condensation of the moisture from the humid air entering vapor condensing `unit 66 takes place, the condensing uid and its resulting condensate are pumped from the vapor condenser unit 66 through the condensing unit drain h'ose 93 by means of the' rotating rim 76 projecting into' the mating annular recess 75 formed byy imp'eller cover 73' and casting 25. It should be noted at this point that water within the vapor condensing unit 66 is prevented from owing down the rear easing wall 23 since the latter rear wall 23 extends inwardly beyond the periphery of casting 25 and forms a small sump for accumulating the condensing fiuid and the resulting condensate. It will be appreciated that the splash back of condensing fluids into casing 14 is controlled by design of the impeller blad-es 71, their distance from casing 14, the point at which water is discharged against impeller member 65 and the amount of water discharged into unit 66, etc. This splash back may also be controlled by minor additions of baffle members (not shown) to the front p-art of housing 25.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for treating fabrics comprising, a support', a casing mounted on said support, said casing including a wall provided with a housing member mounted thereon, said housing member including a bearing and means defining first and second passageways concentric to and radially spaced from said bearing and from each other, a drum with a front wall defining an access opening and positioned within and spaced inwardly from said casing, said drum having a perforate cylindrical side wall and a rear wall provided with a centrally located opening therein, a dmm shaft journalled in said bearingA and connected to said drum for revolubly mounting said drum Iwithin said casing, said first passageway communicating with the interior of said drum through said centrally located opening, said second passageway communicating with said perforate cylindrical side wall through the space provided between said drum and said casing, means for moving air through said drum by way of said first and second passageways, said air moving means being concentric to said passageways, heater means in said casing for heating air entering said drum, and drive means for rotating said drum relative to said casing.

2. Apparatus for treating fabrics comprising, a support, a casing mounted on said support, said casing including a back wall provided with a housing member mounted thereon, said housing member including a bearing and means defining first and second passageways concentric to said bearing and to each other, a drum with a front wall defining an access opening and positioned within and spaced inwardly from said casing, said drum having a perforate cylindrical side wall and a rear wall provided with a centrally located opening therein, a drum shaft journalled in said bearing and connected to said drum for revolubly mounting said drum within said casing, said first passageway communicating with the interior of said drum through said centrally located opening, said second passageway communicating with said perforate cylindrical side wall Ithrough the space provided between said drum and said casing, means for moving air through said drum by way of said first and second passageways, said air moving means being concentric to said passageways, heater means in said casing for heating air entering said drum, and drive means for rotating said drum relative to said casing.

3. A combination washer-drier for processing fabrics during washing and drying operations, comprising, a support, a casing adapted to contain fluids mounted on said support, said casing including an upstanding back wall provided with a housing member mounted thereon, said housing member including a bearing and means defining first and second passageways radially spaced from said bearing and from each other, a drum with a front wall defining an access opening and for retaining said fabrics during said washing and drying operations, said drum having a perforate peripheral wall portion and a rear wall provided with an opening therein, a drum shaft journalled in said bearing and connected to said drum for revolubly mounting said drum on a horiontal' axis within said casing, said firstI passageway communicating with the interior of said drum through said opening in said rear drum wall, said second passageway communi,- catingrwith said perforate peripheral wall portion through the space provided between said drum and said casing, means for moving air through said dmm by way of said first and second passageways, said air moving means being concentric to said passageways, heater means in said casing for heating air entering said drum and drive means for rotating said drum relative to said casing during said Washing and drying operations. j

4. A combination washer-drier for processing fabrics during washing and drying operations, comprising, a support, a fluid container mounted on said support, said container including an upstanding back wall provided with a housing member mounted thereon, said housing member including a bearing and means defining first and second passageways radially spaced from said bearing and from each other, a drum for retaining said fabrics positioned within and spaced inwardly from said container, -a drum shaft journalled in said bearing and connected to said drum for revolubly mounting said drum within said container, said drum having a front Wall defining and access opening and having a back wall provided with an opening communicating with said first passageway, said drum further having a perforate wall portion communicating with said second passageway through the space provided between said drum and said container, means for moving air through said drum by way of said first and second passageways, said air moving means being concentric to said passageways, heater means in said container for heating air entering said drum, and drive means for rotating said drum within said container during said washing and drying operations.

5. A clothes drying machine for drying damp fabrics comprising, a support, a casing mounted on said support, said casing including an upstanding back wall provided with a `housing member mounted thereon, said housing member including a bearing and means defining first and second passageways radially spaced from said bearing and from each other, a drum positioned within and spaced inwardly from said casing, a drum shaft journalled in said bearing and connected to said drum for revolubly mounting said drum within said casing, drive means for rotating said drum relative to said casing, said drum having a rear wall provided with an opening communicating with said first passageway, said drum further having a front wall defining an access opening and having a perforate wall portion communicating with said second passageway through the space provided between said drum and said casing, means for supplying heat to the interior of said drum to evaporate moisture from fabrics placed within said drum, a vapor condenser unit interconnecting said first and second passageways and having said first passageway as its intake and said second passageway as its outlet, said vapor condenser unit serving to condense moisture vapors entering said unit from said drum and further providing a closed circulatory air path through said drum, and means for vmoving air through said drum and into said vapor condenser unit by way of said circulatory air path.

6. A clothes drier for drying damp fabrics comprising, a support, a casing mounted on said support, said casing including an upstanding wall provided with a housing member mounted thereon, said housing member including a bearing and means defining first and second passageways concentric to said bearing and to each other, a drum positioned within and spaced inwardly from said casing, a drum shaft journalled in said bearing and connected to said drum for revolubly mounting said drum within said casing, drive means for rotating said drum relative to said casing, said drum having a rear wall provided with an opening communicating with said first passageway, said drum further having a front wall dening an access opening and having a perforate wall portion communicating with said second passageway through the space provided between said drum and saidI casing, heater means positioned between said drum andsaid casing for heating air passing through said space to evaporate moisture from fabrics placed within said drum, a vapor condenser unit interconnecting said first and sec- ,ond passageways and having said first passageway as its intake and said second passageway as its outlet, said vapor condenser unit serving to condense moisture vapors `entering saidunit from said drum and further providing a closed circulatory air path through said drum, and means for moving air past siad heater means and through said vapor-condenser unit by way of said drum. 7. A clothes drier for drying fabrics comprising, a support, a casing mounted on said support, said casing in- 'cluding a back wall mounting a housing member thereon, said housing member including a bearing and means defining first and second passageways concentric to said bearing and to each other, a clothes receiving drum posi- Ationed within and spaced inwardly from said casing, said drum including a rear wall provided with a centrally located opening aligned with said first passageway and communicating therewith, a drive shaft journalled in said bearing, a drum spider member spanning said opening and rigidly interconnecting said drum and said drive shaft, said drum further including a front wall defining an access opening and a perforate periphery communieating with said second passageway through the space between said drum and said casing, heating means posi- Vtioned between said drum and said casing for heating air passing through said space into said drum to evaporate moisture from fabrics placed within said drum, a vapor `condenser unit interconnecting said first and second passageways and having said first passageway as its intake and said second passageway as its outlet, said vapor condenser unit serving to condense moisture vapors entering said unit from said drum and further providing a closed circulatory air path through said drum and means for moving air past said heating means and through said vapor condensing unit by way of said drum.

8. Apparatus for drying fabrics comprising, a support, a casing mounted on said support, said casing including a ,back wall mounting a housing member thereon, said housing member including a bearing and a tubular member cooperating with said housing to define first and second concentric passageways, a clothes receiving drum positioned within and spaced inwardly from said casing, said drum including a rear wall provided with a centrally located opening positioned adjacent to and aligned with said first passageway for establishing communication between said first passageway and the interior of said drum, a drum supporting member connected to said drum and spanning said opening, a revoluble drive shaft journalled in said bearing and connected to said drum to rotate and form the sole support for said drum, Vsaid drum further including a front wall defining an access opening and a perforate peripheral portion communi- `eating with said second passageway through the space between said drum and said casing, heating means encircling at least a portion of said tubular member and positioned between said drum and said casing for heating air passing into said peripheral portion to evaporate moisture from fabrics placed within said drum, a vapor condenser unit interconnecting said first and second passageways 4and having said first passageway as its intake and said second passageway as its outlet, said vapor condenser unit serving to condense moisture vapors entering said unit from said drum and further providing a closed circulatory air path through said drum, and means included `in said` vapor condenser unit for moving air past said heater means and through said vapor condenser unit by way of said drum. v

9. Laundryapparatus comprising, a support, a casing mounted on said support, said casing including a back wall mounting-a housing member thereon, said housing member including a bearing and a tubular member cooperating with said housing to define first and second passageways concentric to said bearing and to each other, a clothes receiving drum positioned within and spaced inwardly from said casing, said drum including a rear wall provided with a centrally located opening positioned adjacent to and aligned with said first passageway for establishing communication between said first passageway and the interior of said drum, means carried on said tubular member and contacting said rear drum wall for sealing said tubular member to said drum, a drum supporting member connected to said drum and spanning said opening, a revoluble drive shaft journalled in said bearingrand rigidly connected to said drum supporting member to rotate and form the sole support for said drum, said drum further including a front wall defining an access opening and a perforate peripheral wall portion communicating with said second passageway through the space between said drum and said casing, heater means positioned between said casing and said rear drum Iwall for heating air passing between said space and entering said drum through said perforate peripheral wall portion, a vapor condenser unit interconnecting said first and second passageways and having said first passageway as its intake and said second passageway as its outlet, said vapor condenser unit serving to condense moisture vapors entering said unit from said drum `and further providing a closed circulatory air path through said drum, means for injecting cooling uid into said vapor condenser unit, said vapor condenser unit further including pump means for removing said cooling fluid and condensed moisture vapors from said vapor condenser unit, and means positioned within said vapor condenser unit for moving air past said `heater means and into said vapor condenser unit by way of said drum.

l0. A combination washer-drier for washing and drying fabrics during washing and drying operations, comprising, a casing including a rear wall mounting a housing member thereon, said housing member including a bearing and a tubular member supported in spaced relationship to each other and to the periphery of said housing member to define inner and outer passageways within said housing member, a clothes receiving drum positioned within and spaced from said casing, said drum including a perforate peripheral portion and a centrally located opening positioned adjacent and aligned with said inner passageway to provide a means for air ow through said drum, a revoluble shaft journalled in said bearing and connected to said drum for tumbling said fabrics and providing the sole means of support for said drum, said drum further including a front wall defining an access opening therein, conduit means for supplying said casing with washing uid for said washing operation, a heating unit positioned between said drum and said casing to evaporate moisture from said fabrics during said drying operation, a vapor condenser unit aligned with said inner passageway and communicating with the interior of said drum through said centrally located opening, said vapor condenser unit further communicating with said perforate peripheral portion through said outer passageway, means for injecting cooling uid into said vapor condenser unit for condensing moisture vapors evaporated by said heating unit during said drying operation, and means in said vapor condenser unit for circulating air through said drum and for removing cooling tiuid from said vapor condenser unit.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,792,640 Patterson May 2l, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 584,539 Great Britain Ian. 16, 1947 280,805 Switzerland May 16, 1952 

